Erving Goffman

Definition

Erving Goffman was a Canadian sociologist known for his work on symbolic interactionism and the presentation of self in everyday life. His theories explore how individuals manage their identities and the impressions they create in social interactions, making them highly relevant to understanding societal issues like ageism in media and the dynamics of influencer culture.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Goffman's work emphasizes that individuals often adapt their behavior based on the audience they are interacting with, a concept crucial for understanding how ageism can be portrayed in media.
2. His book 'The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life' introduces the idea that social interactions are like performances where individuals use various strategies to manage how they are perceived.
3. Goffman's theory of stigma is particularly important in analyzing how certain age groups may be marginalized in media representations, leading to stereotypical portrayals.
4. Influencer culture is heavily influenced by Goffman's ideas, as social media platforms allow users to curate their identities and engage in impression management to maintain authenticity.
5. The distinction between front stage and back stage behavior can help explain how influencers project an idealized version of themselves while having private lives that may differ significantly from their online personas.

Review Questions

• How does Goffman's concept of impression management relate to the portrayal of different age groups in media?
  • Goffman's concept of impression management illustrates how individuals consciously present themselves to influence others' perceptions. In media, this plays out through the representation of different age groups, where older adults might be depicted through stereotypes that fail to capture their complexity. This selective portrayal can perpetuate ageist attitudes by promoting narrow views on what it means to age, showcasing the consequences of mismanaged impressions in public discourse.
• Discuss how Goffman's idea of stigma can help us understand the impact of ageism within influencer culture.
  • Goffman's idea of stigma helps us see how certain characteristics, including age, can lead to negative labels that affect people's social standing. In influencer culture, this can manifest as older individuals being overlooked or dismissed because they don’t fit the youthful ideal promoted by many social media platforms. This stigmatization reinforces ageist stereotypes, affecting not only how older influencers present themselves but also how audiences perceive their credibility and relevance.
• Evaluate the relevance of Goffman’s front stage/back stage distinction in understanding the authenticity of influencers' online personas versus their real-life identities.
  • Goffman’s front stage/back stage distinction is crucial for evaluating influencer authenticity because it highlights the performance aspect of social media engagement. Influencers often curate their online presence (front stage) to project an appealing image that attracts followers and engagement. However, their real-life identities (back stage) may not align with these curated portrayals. Understanding this dichotomy reveals the complexities behind influencer authenticity, as followers may grapple with distinguishing between genuine personality traits and crafted personas designed for public consumption.

Related terms

Impression Management: The process by which individuals attempt to influence the perceptions of others by controlling the information they present in social interactions.

Stigma:

A social label that discredits an individual or group, often resulting in discrimination or prejudice based on perceived differences.

Front Stage/Back Stage: Goffman's concept that distinguishes between the public persona individuals present to others (front stage) and their private self when they are not in the public eye (back stage).